Post Holiday Depression.

Christmas is over. All the toys are out of their cardboard boxes, and have been carted off by the recycling truck. FINALLY. I've had cardboard piled in my laundry room since Sunday, and the clutter was driving me insane. I packed up the Christmas tree, and decorations yesterday, all the while my precious little 2 year old was crying and pleading with me not to take down the "Chrissamiss treat". Despite wanting to have my house back to normal, I really didn't want to take it down either. :( I feel like December flew by so fast, and Christmas didn't even feel like Christmas for me because we didn't get to spend Christmas day with the kids. I'm not all that sad though, we still have one more Christmas celebration to do on New years, and we have a babysitter that night to go out as well. I wish I could say I'm super excited to go out, but I'm really not. :-/ My anxiety comes and goes, but lately every time we go somewhere unfamiliar with strangers, or somewhere really loud it really flares up. So I'm probably going to spend the whole night anxious and nauseous, so I won't be able to drink. I don't really enjoy drinking too much anyways. Don't get me wrong I love the occasional glass of wine, or just drinking enough to feel tipsy, but partying and getting completely wasted, and then puking is not my thing, it never has been.  On another note, this new year brings a lot of hope for me, and I can't really say why yet, just know that I'm really excited. :) My diet officially starts next week, and I need to find a way to start exercising. Hopefully it's more than just doing yoga on my living room floor haha. So this is the last week I can have soda, or eat junk food so I will probably eat my heart out and be in a food coma all week. Here's to the new year! :)

Happy new year from the Hensley family!

-excuse the sleepy I just woke up and never brush my hair mom look.

Collage.

I made both of these awhile back, haven't made collage-esque in quite awhile.

Salt Dough Ornaments

So yesterday I realized that Christmas is almost here.. And I have yet to do any Christmas crafts with the kids! This bring us to the salt dough ornaments. I wanted to make something that I had all the supplies for, and this doesn't require much so it was perfect.

What you will need: 2 cups of flour

                                  1 cup of salt

                                  1 cup of water

                                  Cookie cutters

                                  Baking sheet

                                  Mixing Bowl

                                  Rolling Pin

Instructions: Mix together salt and water, then gradually add in water as you mix together.

                      Flour the counter top so it doesn't stick, roll dough onto counter.

                      Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.

                      Bake at 250 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until hard.

                      Paint when cool! Cover in clear coat afterwards if desired.

See? Really easy. My ornaments don't look very Christmasy though do they? Hehe.

.

On so many levels.

Believing.

Grocery day!

I've been waiting forever to grocery shop because this week is double dollar week at Leeker's in Park City, so my fridge is pretty bare and I had to buy a lot! So much, that I had to take 2 separate photos.

I spent 114.34 and saved 76.86, and this will last us 2 weeks so I spent right around what I usually spend.

Highlights of my trip: 69 cent sausage rolls after coupons

                                89 cent garnier fructis shampoo after coupons

                                2.99 downy unstoppables after coupons, I was really pumped about this because these             are usually 7.00 a bottle!

                                1.00 Hershey chocolate chips after coupons, 4 bags for my holiday baking.

I would say pretty successful for a family of 4, no?

In the Mourning

This song is genius.

Winter Sun

Woke up to a teeny tiny bit of snow on the ground this morning. My kids and I were really excited, I like snow. Well I grew up in upstate New York. I kinda have to like snow. But anyways, this is one of my favorite winter songs to listen to. Especially when you're driving and it's all snowy. :)

Refurbished Jewelry Box.

I found this Jewelry Box at the thrift store for a whopping .50 cents! I wish I would have thought to take before pictures, but I'm just going to be blunt, It was ugly. A nasty off white color with wording on every drawer saying which jewelry should go where. It was just screaming at me to take it home and make it pretty. So I did. This cost me nothing to make, since I already had all the materials on hand, all I paid for was the jewelry box. And now my little sister has another Christmas present to add to the pile. :)

I chose a hot pink color for the box, and painted the drawer handles purple, and also mod podged some flower scrapbook paper to the top.

I painted the inside of the drawers purple to coordinate with the drawer knobs.

I modpodged some more scrapbook paper to one of the sides, as well as some cutout scrapbook letters.

I also modpodged her name on the other side, and painted the inside of the box a teal color. Covered in a few clear coats of spray paint and there you have it! So pretty and girly :)

Restaurant Style Mexican Rice

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until puffed and golden. While rice is cooking, sprinkle with salt and cumin.
2. Stir in onions and cook until tender. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Enchiladas

I told you I would post the recipe later so here it is. And a recipe for authentic mexican rice as well. Yummy :)!

Ingredients

• FOR THE SAUCE:
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour
• 1 can (28 Ounce) Enchilada Or Red Sauce
• 2 cups Chicken Broth
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 2 Tablespoons Chopped Cilantro
• _____
• FOR THE MEAT:
• 2 pounds Ground Beef
• 1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 1 can Diced Green Chilies
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• _____
• FOR THE TORTILLAS:
• 16 Flour tortillas
• _____
• TO ASSEMBLE:
• 3 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 cup Chopped Black Olives
• 1 cup Chopped Green Onions
• 1/2 cup Chopped Cilantro

Preparation Instructions

Step #1 – The Sauce
In a large saucepan over medium heat, add oil and flour and whisk together to make a paste, cooking for one minute. Pour in the red sauce, chicken broth, cilantro, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30-45 minutes.

Step #2 – The Meat
Brown the meat with onions in a skillet. Drain off fat. Stir in 2 cans diced green chilies and seasoned salt. Set aside.

Step #3 – Assembly
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour ½ cup red sauce in bottom of baking pan. Spread to even out. Dip each tortilla into red sauce, then remove to work surface. Spoon meat, a little grated cheese, a little black olives, and green onions in the center of tortilla. Roll up and place, seam down, in baking pan. Repeat until pan is filled. Pour extra red sauce over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle cilantro over enchiladas before serving. This makes for about 16 Enchiladas.

And today's game day food is...

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Enchiladas. And maybe a side of rice.. if I feel up to it :) Will post recipe later.

Something I have always loved.

Source: tumblr.com via Alicia on Pinterest

Walking in the snow in the dark.

December

Source: flickr.com via Ally on Pinterest

Pyrex obsession

Lately I have been obsessed with pyrex. My grandma used to have some of these bowls, but you know when you're a kid you don't think much of it. I went looking at the thrift store and couldn't find any :( So I check the antique mall and guess what? They had like maybe 3 pieces, and they were all out of my price range. Maybe if I'm good, Santa will help me out this year. ;)